Promoting Welsh Food

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on policies to promote Welsh food in England; and if he will make a statement.

Wayne David: My right hon. Friend and I hold regular meetings with Assembly Ministers on a wide range of issues, including food promotion.
	The Welsh Assembly Government already has a number of successful initiatives promoting the best of Welsh food in the UK and abroad.

2012 Olympics

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Minister on Wales's contribution to the 2012 Olympics.

Wayne David: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets with the First Minister regularly discussing a wide range of issues, including the Olympics and Wales' large potential contribution to it's success.

Welfare Reform

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on co-operation between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Assembly Government on welfare reform projects in Wales.

Wayne David: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues including Welfare Reform.
	There is good co-operation. Recently Welsh Assembly Government colleagues held a consultation event in Wales on Welfare Reform, which was supported by both the Assembly's Deputy Skills Minister and myself.

Health Services

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the use of health services in Wales by patients resident in England.

Wayne David: Wales Office Ministers have regular discussions with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on a range of issues, including health.
	Welsh Affairs Committee interim report acknowledges that cross border patient flow is both inevitable and natural if patients are to access the care they need.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the national level of housing revenue account subsidy was in each year since 1990; and what it is projected to be in each of the next 15 years, using the same assumptions which have been made for the housing revenue account pilot opt-outs.

Iain Wright: A table showing the national level of housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy from 1995-96 to 2006-07 (the last year for which audited data is available) is as follows.
	The table shows the value of the 'bricks and mortar' element of HRA subsidy. Prior to 2004-05, HRA subsidy also contained a rent rebate element. This is omitted from the table to ensure consistency with post 2004-05 data. Prior to 2004-05, surpluses in the 'bricks and mortar' element were applied to the cost of rent rebates for local authorities.
	
		
			   HRA Subsidy (£) 
			 1995-96 - 390,050,431 
			 1996-97 - 563,028,455 
			 1997-98 - 668,307,497 
			 1998-99 -869,992,311 
			 1999-2000 -1,040,869,030 
			 2000-01 -1,123,786,228 
			 2001-02 351,105,009 
			 2002-03 252,059,142 
			 2003-04 191,153,240 
			 2004-05 77,994,764 
			 2005-06 249,427,865 
			 2006-07 133,943,708 
		
	
	Pre 1995-96 data is available only at disproportionate cost.
	As part of the self financing modelling exercise some broad forecasts of future HRA subsidy entitlement were generated at a national level. These forecasts were based upon a number of assumptions about factors such as the number of dwellings in the HRA subsidy system, interest rates and rates of inflation. The forecasts are highly sensitive to changes in any of these assumptions. It is based upon the 2007-08 HRA subsidy system.
	The forecast subsidies generated were as follows:
	
		
			   HRA subsidy (£ million) 
			 2008-09 -194 
			 2009-10 -216 
			 2010-11 -303 
			 2011-12 -421 
			 2012-13 -424 
			 2013-14 -376 
			 2014-15 -398 
			 2015-16 -434 
			 2016-17 -476 
			 2017-18 -543 
			 2018-19 -611 
			 2019-20 -680 
			 2020-21 -750 
			 2021-22 -822 
			 2022-23 -894

Local Authorities: Mortgages

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she next plans to review the standard national rate for local authority mortgages.

Iain Wright: The Standard National Rate is subject to frequent review as required by section 438 and Schedule 16 of the Housing Act 1985. We will be reviewing the rate in the next few weeks.

Local Authorities: Mortgages

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 982W, on local authorities: mortgages, which building society lending rates are used for the purpose of reviewing the standard national rate (SNR) for local authority mortgages; and what those rates were at the time of the last review of the SNR.

Iain Wright: The names and lending rates of the societies which were used in the 1 September review process are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			   Base percentage 
			  Building society  Standard Variable R ate 
			 Nationwide 6.80 
			 Yorkshire 6.90 
			 Britannia 7.20 
			 Coventry 7.20 
			 Skipton 6.50 
			 Chelsea 6.70 
		
	
	By means of a weighting mechanism to take account of the mortgage market share of the building societies, the Standard National Rate is calculated using their standard variable rates.
	The Standard National Rate for local authority mortgages was last reviewed on 1 September 2008 and remained at 6.89 per cent.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Angela Eagle: The Chancellor's Departments do not include any non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs).

Equitable Life

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when in autumn 2008 the Government plans to respond to the report of the Parliamentary Ombudsman on Equitable Life.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1000W.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Andrew Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average cost to HM Revenue and Customs is of processing a tax return; and how many tax returns would be obviated by increasing the thresholds in line with rental inflation;
	(2)  what the annual cost was of providing the rent-a-room tax scheme at the current threshold of £4,250 in each of the last five years; and what the annual cost would be of indexing the rent-a-room threshold in line with rental inflation from the £4,250 base set in 1997-98.

Stephen Timms: The average paybill cost of processing an income tax self assessment return in 2007-08 was £15.72. If the rent a room threshold had been increased in line with inflation since 1997-98 up to 5,000 taxpayers would have been taken out of self assessment.
	The estimated tax cost of exempting income under the rent a room scheme is published in table A3.1 of Budget 2008.
	The annual cost of increasing the rent a room threshold in line with rental inflation from the level of £4,250 set for 1997-98 is around £5 million.

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent on overnight accommodation by civil servants from her Office in the last 12 months.

Chris Bryant: None.

Departmental Security

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Leader of the House how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in her Office in each year since 2001.

Chris Bryant: Due to the machinery of government changes, the Leader of the House of Commons office now forms part of the Cabinet Office. Information for the loss of security passes can be provided only from June 2006 to present. In this time only one security pass has been reported lost.

Bovine Tuberculosis

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the incidence was of bovine tuberculosis in each county of England and Wales in each non-bovine species in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to give accurate figures for the incidence of TB caused by Mycobacterium bovis in non-bovine domestic animals in England and Wales. This is because there is no active surveillance programme in place and no systematic, random surveys of TB have ever been conducted in these species. Furthermore, the identification of  M. bovis in tissues and clinical samples from all mammals (excepting man) and the detection of suspect TB lesions in farmed and companion mammals (other than cattle and farmed deer), became notifiable only in February 2006.
	Data can be provided only on the number of  M. bovis isolations from notified suspect clinical and post-mortem cases of TB arising in domestic animals other than cattle. For these reasons, and because these cases came from a small non-random sample of all the susceptible animals in England and Wales, this data is not an exact reflection of the true incidence of bovine TB in domestic animals.
	
		
			   Animal and County 
			 1997 Nil 
			 1998 Domestic cat (2) Cornwall (1); Wiltshire (1) 
			 1999 Llama (3) Gwent (3) 
			 2000 Domestic cat (3) Herefordshire (2 Plus another for which we have no data on the location. 
			 2001 Nil 
			 2002 Cat (2) Gloucestershire. (1), Wiltshire. (1); Dog (1) Gloucestershire; Domestic Pig (1) -Wiltshire. Sheep (1) Wiltshire. 
			 2003 Domestic pig (8) Herefordshire (3) and Devon (5); Alpaca (2) Gloucestershire (1); Somerset (1); Llama (1) Herefordshire. 
			 2004 Domestic cat (6) South Gloucestershire. (1); Cornwall (3); Somerset (1); Shropshire (1); Dog (1) North Wiltshire; Domestic Pig (1) Gloucestershire.; Alpaca (1) Devon; Sheep (3) (imported from N. Ireland) 
			 2005 Domestic cat (13) Cornwall (2); Devon (1); Somerset (1); Gloucestershire. (1); Worcestershire (1); Staffordshire (1); Cheshire (1); East Sussex (1); Ceredigion (1); Powys (1); West Glamorgan (1); Lincolnshire. (1) Domestic Pig (12) Cornwall (9 from the same farm); Worcestershire (2); Gloucestershire(1); Llama (1) Avon; Sheep (2) Gloucestershire (1); Worcestershire (1); Ferret (3) East Sussex (all 3 cases) 
			 2006 Domestic cat (14) Avon (3); Gloucestershire. (3); Devon (2); Worcestershire (2); Staffordshire (1); Wiltshire (1); Shropshire (1); Pembrokeshire (1); Domestic pig (2) Gloucestershire (1); Monmouthshire (1); Farmed wild boar (2) Cornwall (same farm); Alpaca (1) - East Sussex; Llama (8) Devon (all in llamas from the same premises) 
			 2007 Domestic cat (15)- Avon (1); Cornwall (1); Devon (4); Gloucestershire (1); Monmouthshire (1); Somerset (2); Shropshire (1); Wiltshire (2); Worcestershire (2); Dog (1) Rhondda Cynon Taff (South Wales) Domestic pigs(5) Shropshire (3), Somerset (1), Gloucestershire (1); Goat (2) both cases from the same farm in Wiltshire; Alpaca (4) Powys (2 from the same farm); Dorset (2 from same farm); Llama(16) - Carmarthenshire (11 from the same premises); Devon (5 from the same premises).

Carbon Emissions: Waste Disposal

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 869W, on waste disposal: domestic waste, whether the work on estimating dioxin emissions from domestic burning is complete; and if he will place in the Library copies of the research reports on the topic to date.

Jane Kennedy: The work referred to is still ongoing. The results will be due later this year.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2007,  Official Report, column 865W, on fisheries: quotas, whether the quota management change programme remains in existence following the Scottish Executive's withdrawal from it; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The formal withdrawal by the Scottish Executive from the Quota Management Change Programme (QMCP) in September 2007 effectively brought about the end to this process.
	DEFRA is considering the options on how best to take forward work on quota reform. This work will be done in close partnership with the devolved Administrations and in consultation with the industry. It will also need to be considered in the context of the common fisheries policy (CFP) reform agenda.

Hamford Water Estuary

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what statutory obligations the Harwich Haven Authority has for the development or conservation of Hamford water estuary.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	None. Hamford Water estuary lies outside the jurisdiction of the Harwich Haven Authority.

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust: Cleaning Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on cleaning by the Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust in the latest period for which information is available.

Ben Bradshaw: Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust have reported £6,224,771 through the annual estates related information collection as their cleaning services costs in 2006-07. This data is as provided by the NHS organisation. Further information is available on the following Hospital Estates and Facilities Statistics (hfes) website
	www.hefs.ic.nhs.uk

Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust: Parking

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much revenue was raised in car parking by Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospital Trust area in the latest period for which information is available.

Ben Bradshaw: Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS trust has reported via the estates related information collection income of £748,000 for car parking for staff and visitors in 2006-07. This data is as provided by the NHS organisation. Further information is available on the following Hospital Estates and Facilities Statistics (hfes) website:
	www.hefs.ic.nhs.uk

Carers

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps the Government is taking to assist carers;
	(2)  how many people over the age of 60 were registered as carers in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many people are in receipt of a carer's allowance in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England; and how many were in receipt of the allowance in each year since its inception.

Phil Hope: This information is not held centrally.
	We are investing over £255 million to ensure that the Carers Strategy is implemented, this includes:
	providing every carer with the opportunity to access comprehensive information when they need it;
	making an additional £150 million available over two years for provision of breaks from caring;
	pilots to look at how the national health service can better support carers and to improve the support offered by general practitioners. We will also pilot annual health checks for carers;
	up to £38 million to enable carers to be better able to combine paid employment with their caring role through enhanced flexible working and skills training opportunities;
	over £6 million in increased support for young carers in universal services, such as schools, targeted support and whole family support for carers;
	training carers and so enable them both to strengthen them in their caring role and empower them in their dealings with care professionals. We will also train professionals across the board to provide better support for carers; and
	we have made available £1.2 million to help ensure that key partners in the voluntary sector are able to develop their capacity and the capacity of local partners to implement the strategy.
	To help carers who want to work part-time, we have increased the earnings limit in carer's allowance every year since 2001, and it now stands at £95 a week—almost double its pre-2001 level of £50.

West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust: Parking

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much revenue was raised by West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust in car parking fees in the latest period for which information is available.

Ben Bradshaw: In its annual report for 2007-08, published on 30 September 2008 and available on the trust website at:
	http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/annualreport/0708/default.asp
	West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust reported that approx £634,000 of income was generated by car parking charges for the financial year. No income was reported as income through the annual Estates Related Information Collection for car parking for staff and visitors at this trust in 2006-07.

Africa: Asylum

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recommendations in the UN High Commissioner for Refugees report on camps in the occupied territories of the Western Sahara and Algeria.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not aware of a recent report by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Western Sahara or the camps in Western Sahara and Algeria. However you may be interested to learn that the high commissioner is considering visiting the region early next year.
	The UK strongly supports UNHCR's activities in Western Sahara as elsewhere. The UK continues to believe that the resolution of humanitarian questions should not await the conclusion of a political settlement. The UK, along with EU partners, has called on Morocco and the Polisario to deal with outstanding human rights issues and implement measures that will increase people's confidence.

Burma: Political Prisoners

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to seek to secure the release of political prisoners in Burma in the last 12 months.

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the government of Burma on the detention of opposition parliamentarians.

Bill Rammell: Over the last 12 months my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and other Ministers have raised the need for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Burma on many occasions with key countries in the region including China, India, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Our ambassador in Rangoon has also repeatedly raised the issue with ministers in the military government. In October 2007 we helped to secure unprecedented UN Security Council action on Burma, which included a clear demand for the early release of political prisoners. This demand was reaffirmed by the UN Security Council in May under UK chairmanship. We continue to support the UN Secretary-General's efforts to work on the release of prisoners. The EU has also made its position clear, and with strong UK support, strengthened sanctions against the regime in response to the brutal crackdown on peaceful protests last autumn, when many political activists were detained. Our embassy in Rangoon continues to enquire about specific cases with political prisoner support networks and those non-governmental organisations concerned with prisoner welfare.
	While we welcome the release during September of a small number of political prisoners, it is important to remember that arbitrary arrests continue, and more than 2,000 political prisoners remain in detention.

Colombia: Human Rights

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government has made to the Colombian government on attacks on human rights defenders.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary stressed the UK's support for the work of civil society organisations and human rights defenders to the Colombian Foreign Minister when they met in London on 9 October, which I reiterated when I spoke to the Colombian Foreign Minister on 16 October.
	We have repeatedly made clear to the Colombian Government that human rights defenders' work should be protected and promoted. We have done so publicly, with my hon. Friend the Member for Pontypridd (Dr. Howells) commenting as the Minister of State with responsibility for South America in April 2008:
	"The situation for trade unionists, human rights defenders and indeed other Colombians continues to be very serious, I call on the Colombian Government to do its utmost to ensure that the brave people of Colombia striving for the protection of human rights are allowed to do their vital work safely and without fear, and that the perpetrators of threats, violence and murder are pursued and held accountable for their actions, whoever they are."
	We are matching this advocacy with practical help, through assistance to help strengthen civil society organisations and the role they play in democracy, and raising cases with the authorities to ensure that swift action is taken and justice is seen to be done.

Cuba: Prisoners

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience currently held in custody in Cuba.

Gillian Merron: The Cuban government retains tight control over information about their prisons. It is therefore difficult to put an exact figure on the number of political prisoners. Four prisoners of conscience were conditionally released during 2007 and subsequently exiled to Spain. However, Amnesty International consider, in their latest 2008 report, that there are at least 62 prisoners of conscience currently in Cuba.
	In January 2008 the Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, an unofficial source of human rights information inside Cuba, counted 234 cases of political prisoners. In the Commission's August report, it notes an overall decline in numbers of political prisoners but an increase in temporary detentions and harassment against dissidents. This is consistent with reporting we have received from our embassy in Havana.

Hezbollah

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government has had discussions with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Bill Rammell: The UK has not had contacts with Hezbollah since 2005. We keep our policy on contact with Hezbollah under close review.
	Our objective with Hezbollah remains to encourage them to move away from violence and play a constructive and peaceful role in Lebanese politics.
	The UK proscribed Hezbollah's External Security Organisation in 2001 and in July 2008 that proscription was extended to the entire military wing of Hezbollah. We did not proscribe its political wing.

India: Terrorism

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Indian government on terrorism  (a) in India and  (b) internationally; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The UK has a wide-ranging and constructive relationship with the Indian Government on countering terrorism, both in India and internationally. UK Ministers regularly discuss the issue with their Indian counterparts, most recently on 26 September when my right Hon. Friend the Prime Minister met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York, and on 15 September when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, met Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil in New Delhi. The Government condemn acts of terrorism wherever they occur, including those which have taken place in India over recent months. We are committed to working with the Indian Government to reduce the terrorist threat posed to both our countries.

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his counterparts in  (a) the United States and  (b) Russia on the respective proposals in each country to modernise their nuclear weapons programme and the compatibility of such modernisation with obligations under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.

Bill Rammell: We regularly discuss with the United States and Russia the importance of action to reinforce the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, including through demonstration of our commitment to Article VI. Under their bilateral strategic arms control arrangements, by 2012 both countries will have reduced their total stockpiles of strategic nuclear warheads by around 80 per cent. since the end of the cold war. We have welcomed that progress, and encouraged both countries to reduce their nuclear arsenals even further in due course.

Pakistan: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Pakistan on the murder of members of the Ahmadiyya community.

Bill Rammell: We have not discussed the murder of these two members of the Ahmadiyya community with the Government of Pakistan, but we have made joint representations with our EU partners to the Government of Pakistan about the discrimination to which the Ahmadiyya community is subjected.
	We are aware that the Sindh Minister for Information will be conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding these murders and our High Commission in Islamabad will follow its progress.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on Tibet's right to national self-determination; and what recent steps he has taken in pursuing that policy.

Bill Rammell: Successive Governments have regarded Tibet as autonomous while recognising the special position of the Chinese authorities there. We have consistently informed the Chinese government of our view that greater autonomy should be granted to the Tibetans. But like all other EU members, we do not support Tibetan independence.
	We have emphasised that the current political difficulties in Tibet can best be resolved through dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama has stated publicly that he opposes violence and does not seek independence, but greater autonomy for Tibet. We consider that this provides a basis for a negotiated settlement to the issue of Tibet.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had talks with both Premier Wen and President Hu while in China for the Olympic games. He reiterated our desire that the next round of the dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama should take place in a constructive manner and produce positive outcomes.

Departmental Internet

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits to his departmental website have been recorded from computers outside his Department and the parliamentary estate since May 2007.

Ann McKechin: Information on visits to the departmental website from outside the Department and the Parliamentary Estate is not available. The Scotland Office website:
	www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk
	has received a total of 179,147 visits since May 2007, from 72,957 unique visitors.

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental public bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State (Barbara Follett) to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) on 14 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1196-97W.

Members: Correspondence

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to the letters from the right hon. Member for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill of 4 June, 22 July, 12 September and 1 October about his constituent Mr Gerald Mahoney.

Kitty Ussher: A holding reply was sent on 17 October 2008.
	The hon. Member's letter of 4 June was not received by the Department.
	Replies were sent to the hon. Member on:
	19 August in response to his letter of 22 July;
	16 October in response to his letter of 12 September and;
	19 October in response to his letter of 1 October.

Occupational Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps the Government has taken to encourage employers to provide pensions for their staff.

Rosie Winterton: A holding reply was sent on 20 October 2008.
	Many employers already help their workers to provide for their retirement through workplace pensions. To encourage this and increase participation in workplace pension schemes, our reform programme includes measures that will remove some of the regulatory burdens on schemes and employers and from 2012 employers will have a statutory duty to enrol workers into workplace pension saving that meets minimum standards. We estimate these reforms will lead to between six to nine million more people newly participating or saving more in workplace pensions.

Pensioners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on  (a) pension credit,  (b) the second state pension,  (c) the basic state pension,  (d) widow's benefit,  (e) free television licenses,  (f) Christmas bonuses,  (g) attendance allowance paid to pensioners and  (h) carers allowance paid to pensioners expressed in current prices in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on selected DWP benefits paid to pensioners 
			  Great Britain, 2008- 09 prices  (a) Pension Credit and predecessors  (b) SERPS and S2P  (c) Basic State Pension  (d) Widow's and Bereavement Benefits  (e) Over 75 TV Licence  (f) Christmas Bonus  (g) Attendance Allowance  (h) Carer's Allowance 
			 1997-98 4,992 4,189 40,255 185 184 3,336 — — 
			 1998-99 4,671 4,724 41,226 174 181 3,459 — — 
			 1999-00 4,783 5,563 42,261 163 170 3,571 — — 
			 2000-01 5,108 5,901 42,427 150 381 169 3,686 — 
			 2001-02 5,465 6,490 44,578 145 445 166 3,806 — 
			 2002-03 5,297 6,932 45,474 179 442 162 3,840 — 
			 2003-04 5,569 7,632 45,755 162 473 162 3,968 42 
			 2004-05 6,670 8,225 46,291 154 486 159 4,104 43 
			 2005-06 7,030 8,928 47,327 138 504 156 4,293 39 
			 2006-07 7,305 9,564 47,506 120 519 154 4,413 42 
			 2007-08 7,582 10,482 48,826 106 525 152 4,572 48 
			  Notes: 1. Pension credit replaced income support for people over 60/minimum income guarantee in 2003-04. Figures include spending on men aged 60 to 64. 2. The main reason for the decline in the payment of widow's and bereavement benefits from 2002-03 is due to changes in the criteria for receipt of the benefits. Widow's benefit is now closed to new claimants, who now receive a bereavement benefit instead. In addition, persons in receipt of Widow's and bereavement benefits now receive state pension on reaching state pension age. Previously, persons in receipt of widow's benefit continued to receive this benefit on reaching state pension age and did not receive a state pension. Also, a declining mortality rate means a slight reduction in the numbers claiming these benefits. 3. Over 75 TV licences expenditure is on a UK basis, and was introduced in 2000-01. 4. Christmas bonus comprises of contributory and non-contributory payments and includes all payments made including a small amount to people not of pension age. 5. Carer's allowance replaced invalid care allowance in 2002-03. Consistent estimates of payment of the benefit to pensioners are only available from 2003-04.  Source:  DWP Benefits expenditure tables and accounting data for 2007-08.

Pensioners: Poverty

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government is taking to reduce pensioner poverty.

Rosie Winterton: Tackling pensioner poverty continues to be one of this Government's key priorities.
	The Government have introduced a number of measures to help older people out of poverty. In 1997, the poorest pensioners lived on around £69 a week, today pension credit ensures that no-one needs to live on less than £124.05 a week (£189.35 for a couple). We have successively raised the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit at least in line with earnings in every year since its introduction, and the value of the safety-net we provide for the poorest pensioners has increased by over a third in real terms since 1997.
	We have made good progress in tackling pensioner poverty. Between 1998-99 and 2006-07 the number of pensioners in low income in the UK has fallen from 2.9 million to 2.1 million (measured by 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs.)
	Our commitments in the Pensions Act 2007 to continue to uprate the pension credit standard minimum guarantee at least in line with earnings over the long term, and to reintroduce the earnings link to basic state pension from 2012, or by the end of the next Parliament, will help secure the gains we have made into the future.
	We will continue to strive to ensure that older people are aware of, and take up their entitlements through initiatives such as: using sophisticated data matching to identify those who may be entitled to, but not currently receiving, benefits; home visits for vulnerable customers; local and national advertising and media campaigns; a simple and straight-forward claim process and ever closer working with partner organisations.
	In addition to pension credit we have increased winter fuel payments to £200 for households with someone aged 60-79, and £300 for those with someone aged 80 or over. We will be making an additional payment for winter 2008-09 of £50 for households with someone aged 60 to 79 and £100 for those with someone aged 80 or over. Since 1997, we have also introduced free eye-tests, free off-peak bus travel for pensioners and free television licences for over 75s.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps the Government is taking to encourage the take up of benefits that remain unclaimed by pensioners each year.

Rosie Winterton: Addressing pensioner poverty has been one of the Government's key priorities since 1997. The number of pensioners in relative low income has fallen from 2.9 million in 1998-99 to 2.1 million in 2006-07. Pensioners are less likely to be in poverty, as measured by relative incomes after housing costs are accounted for, than the population as a whole.
	Maximising the take-up of benefits is crucial to tackling poverty levels. Since pension credit was introduced in 2003 the number of pensioners in relative low income has fallen by around 500,000.
	We are making every effort to ensure that people are aware of and claim their entitlement.
	We have simplified the claim process to make pension credit easier to claim. Customers no longer need to sign and return their pension credit claim forms, claims can be made entirely over the phone.
	This autumn 2008, we are introducing a measure which will enable claims to housing benefit and council tax benefit made over the phone with pension credit, to be forwarded directly to the local authority without the need for a signature—this is a significant simplification to the claim process and should benefit thousands of pensioners.
	In February 2007, an additional question was introduced in the pension credit application process to identify relevant caring responsibilities in order to invite the customer, where appropriate, to claim carer's allowance using a new, shortened, claim pack specifically designed for people of pension age.
	In addition we are using sophisticated data matching to identify eligible non- recipients, home visits for vulnerable customers, targeted local marketing and media campaigns and ever closer working with partner organisations.

Pensions Service: Occupational Pensions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the staff at the Pensions Service are entitled to a final salary pension scheme; and how much employer contributions costs to the scheme cost in the last year for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: As at 30 September 2008, 92 per cent. of staff in The Pension Service are entitled to benefits under the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) final salary scheme.
	The Pension Service also paid out £42.153 million in employer contributions for Pension Service staff in 2007-08(1).
	(1) Source:
	The Pension Service Annual Report and Accounts.

Social Security Benefits: Automated Credit Transfer

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing a system of automatic payments of benefits to people who are eligible for but not claiming pension credit or council tax benefit;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on sharing data in order to enable automatic payment of benefits.

Rosie Winterton: I have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues relating to the assessment and payment of benefits.
	The Government are determined to do everything they can to ensure that people get the benefit that they are entitled to, including using information more effectively. For example we already use sophisticated data matching to identify eligible non-recipients and then use a range of approaches to help encourage them to claim.
	We have made considerable progress in making the process for claiming benefits more automatic. For example, in a new initiative starting this autumn, pensioners can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit with pension credit, entirely over the phone without having to fill in and sign a form.

Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assistance he plans to make available to lone parents who move from income support to jobseekers allowance when their youngest child reaches the age of 12 years to provide the flexibility needed to combine family commitments with job seeking.

Kitty Ussher: A holding reply was sent on 20 October 2008.
	Lone parents claiming jobseeker's allowance will have a jobseeker's agreement, tailored to their individual circumstances, setting out what they will do to get work. This will include any restrictions agreed between them and their Adviser on their availability and search for work. This could include restricting their availability to a minimum of 16 hours per week. There are also time-limited easements within the jobseeker's allowance regime which cover special circumstances and include periods where the lone parent or their child is ill or if there is a domestic emergency.
	In addition, to safeguard the welfare of children, regulations will be amended to increase Jobcentre Plus adviser discretion so that a lone parent who is claiming jobseeker's allowance will not be penalised if they leave a job, or fail to take up a job, because appropriate, affordable child care is not available.

Airports: Public Participation

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultation exercises his Department has undertaken on airport expansion in the last three years; and at what cost.

Jim Fitzpatrick: One, with a supplementary consultation. The "Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport" consultation was published on 22 November 2007 and closed on 27 February this year. As part of the work to update the Impact Assessment issued with that consultation, the Department is currently consulting on an equalities impact assessment of the Heathrow development options. This closes on 9 November.
	As this is still ongoing, the full costs of the 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation process have not yet been finalised.

Bypasses: Construction

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  which bypasses have been completed since 2000;
	(2)  how many bypasses have been built in  (a) urban and  (b) rural areas since 1997.

Paul Clark: The following table lists bypass schemes which have been completed since 1997 by either the Highways Agency or the relevant local highway authorities. The Department does not distinguish between  (a) urban and  (b) rural areas.
	
		
			  Year  Scheme 
			 1997 A1184 Bishop Stortford South West Distributor Road, Hertfordshire 
			  Parkeston Bypass Stage 1, Phase 1A, Essex . 
			  Averham Bypass,. Nottinghamshire 
			  A256 Whitfield to Eastry/Whitfield Bypass 
			  A413Wendover Bypass, Buckinghamshire 
			   
			 1998 Werrington/Glinton Bypass, Cambridgeshire 
			  Parkeston Bypass Stage 1, Phase 1B, Essex 
			  A15/A16 Market Deeping Bypass, Lincolnshire 
			  A16 Peakes Parkway, North East Lincolnshire 
			  Dearne Town Link Road, Barnsley 
			  A1058 Cradlewell Bypass; Newcastle 
			  A228 Hale Street Bypass, Kent 
			  A289 Wainscott Bypass, Kent 
			  Tingewick Bypass, Buckinghamshire 
			   
			 1999 Dudley Southern Bypass, West Midlands 
			  Coalfields Link Road Phase 1, Barnsley 
			  Leeds Inner Ring Road, Stage 6, Leeds 
			   
			 2000 A617 Rainworth Bypass, Nottinghamshire 
			   
			 2001 A174 Skelton and Brotton Bypass 
			  Burntwood Bypass Phase 1 and 2, Staffordshire 
			  A151 Weston Bypass , Lincolnshire 
			  C541 Addlethorpe Bypass and Bends Improvement, Lincolnshire 
			   
			 2002 A143 Broome-Ellingham, Essex 
			  A131 Great Leighs , Essex 
			  A6023 Denaby Main Diversion, Doncaster 
			  A511 Ashby Bypass Stage 2, Leicestershire 
			  A27 Polegate Bypass, East Sussex 
			  A43 Silverstone Bypass (A43 M40 to B4031 Dualling), Northamptonshire 
			  A43 Whitfield Turn to Brackley Hatch Improvement (A43 M40 to B4031 Dualling), Northamptonshire 
			  A6 Clapham Bypass, Bedfordshire 
			  A66 Stainburn and Great Clifton Bypass, Cumbria 
			  Wyre Piddle Bypass,. Worcestershire 
			  A428 Crick Bypass, Northamptonshire: (Developer Funded) 
			   
			 2003 A350 Semington-Melksham Diversion, Wiltshire 
			  Barnsley Coalfields Link Road (aka Shafton Bypass) 
			  A6 Great Glen Bypass, Leicestershire 
			  A53 Hodnett Bypass, Shropshire 
			  A5 Nesscliffe Bypass, Shropshire 
			  A500 Basford, Hough and Shavington Bypass, Cheshire 
			  A6 Rothwell-Desborough Bypass, Northamptonshire 
			  A6 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Bypass, Northamptonshire 
			  A6 Alvaston Bypass, Derbyshire 
			  A650 Bingley Relief Road, Yorkshire 
			  A4146 Stoke Hammond and Linslade Bypass (Northern Section), Buckinghamshire 
			  A41 Aston Clinton Bypass, Buckinghamshire 
			  A527 Biddulph Inner Bypass, Staffordshire 
			  Ashton-Under-Lyne Northern Bypass Stage 1, Tameside 
			   
			 2004 St Clements Way, Thurrock (aka West Thurrock Marshes Relief Road) 
			  A607 Rearsby Bypass, Leicestershire 
			  Mansfield Ashfield Regeneration Route, Nottinghamshire 
			  A63 Selby Bypass,; North Yorkshire .. 
			  A10 Wadesmill to Colliers End Bypass, Hertfordshire 
			   
			 2005 A167 Chilton Bypass, Durham 
			  A21 Lamberhurst Bypass, Kent 
			  A47 Thorney Bypass, Norfolk 
			  A142 Fordham Bypass, Cambridgeshire 
			  Gloucester South West Bypass (Castlemeads section) 
			  A5 Weeford-Fazeley Improvement, Staffordshire 
			  A158 Coastal Access Improvement Phase 1—Partney Bypass, Lincolnshire 
			  A428 West Haddon Bypass, Northamptonshire (Developer Funded) 
			  A57 Cadishead Way (Brinell Drive to City Boundary), Salford 
			  Burntwood Bypass Phase 3, Staffordshire 
			   
			 2006 A505 Baldock Bypass, Hertfordshire 
			  South Lowestoft Relief Road, Suffolk 
			  A421 Great Barford Bypass, Bedfordshire 
			   
			 2007 Barford Bypass, Warwickshire 
			  A58 Blackbrook Diversion,. St Helens, Merseyside 
			  A197 Pegswood Bypass, Northumberland 
			  A1198 Papworth Everard Bypass, Cambridgeshire 
			  A612 Gedling Integrated Transport Scheme, Nottinghamshire 
			  A429 Barford Bypass, Warwickshire 
			  Barnstaple Western Bypass, Devon 
			  A38 Northfield Regeneration Relief Road, Birmingham 
			  Rugeley Eastern Bypass Stage 2, Staffordshire 
			  A4146 Stoke Hammond and Linslade Western Bypass, Buckinghamshire 
			  Cradley Heath Town Centre Relief Road, Sandwell 
			  Sheffield Northern Inner Relief Road, Sheffield 
			  A158/C541 Coastal Access Improvement Scheme, Phase 2—Burgh Le Marsh Bypass, Lincolnshire 
			  A165 Reighton Bypass, North Yorkshire- 
			  Ridgmont Bypass and Woburn Link Road,. Bedfordshire 
			  A66 Temple Sowerby Bypass and Improvements at Winderwath, Cumbria 
			   
			 2008 Tunstall Northern Bypass, Stoke 
			  A590 High and Low Newton Bypass, Cumbria

Departmental NDPBs

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding has been agreed with each of his Department's non-departmental bodies for the period 2008 to 2011.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The following table details the financial support that the Department for Transport has planned for its Executive non-departmental public bodies for the years 2008 to 2011.
	Trinity house is self-funded from light dues collected at ports around the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The Northern Lighthouse Board is similarly funded by light dues collected at ports around the British isles.
	
		
			  Department for Transport planned financial support to its Executive NDPBs for the financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11 
			  £ million 
			  Executive NDPB  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 British Transport Police 14.78 15.22 12.36 
			 Passenger Focus 5.6 5.8 6.3 
			 Railway Heritage Committee 0.0120 0.120 0.120 
			 Trinity House (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 Northern Lighthouse Board (1)— (1)— (1)— 
			 (1) Nil net.

Dorneywood

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official hospitality, what use her Department has made of Dorneywood for official engagements in the last 12 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 90-91W.

Roads: Accidents

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were  (a) killed,  (b) seriously injured and  (c) injured as a result of traffic collisions involving drivers under the age of 25 years who exceeded alcohol limits in each region of England and Wales in (i) each of the last 10 years and (ii) 2008 to date.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The estimated numbers of people  (a) killed,  (b) seriously injured and  (c) slightly injured resulting from reported personal injury road accidents involving at least one driver or rider under the age of 25-years-old and over the legal alcohol level in each Government office region in England and Wales in 1998 to 2007 are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of casualties 
			  Government Office region  Severity  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East Killed 0 0 0 10 0 0 10 10 10 10 
			  Serious 20 30 20 30 30 20 20 30 30 40 
			  Slight 130 160 150 140 110 150 170 110 150 160 
			 
			 North West Killed 20 10 10 20 10 20 20 20 20 20 
			  Serious 120 70 80 80 90 80 130 130 110 80 
			  Slight 420 410 380 440 460 430 490 470 460 450 
			 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Killed 20 10 10 10 10 20 20 20 20 20 
			  Serious 70 80 60 50 70 120 70 60 80 60 
			  Slight 330 330 290 310 320 360 410 350 280 260 
			 
			 East Midlands Killed 10 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 20 20 
			  Serious 80 50 50 70 50 50 80 70 70 70 
			  Slight 310 270 230 250 270 240 320 260 270 220 
			 
			 West Midlands Killed 10 10 10 20 10 10 10 20 10 30 
			  Serious 90 80 70 60 80 60 70 50 60 80 
			  Slight 290 270 320 340 370 350 350 340 360 360 
			 
			 East of England Killed 20 0 10 10 10 20 20 20 10 20 
			  Serious 120 100 90 100 90 110 90 90 70 80 
			  Slight 350 300 330 310 320 340 320 380 320 310 
			 
			 South East Killed 20 20 20 30 10 20 20 30 30 20 
			  Serious 110 100 100 120 100 120 100 90 80 80 
			  Slight 500 490 530 510 460 480 520 450 470 480 
			 
			 London Killed 0 10 10 0 10 0 10 10 0 0 
			  Serious 70 50 50 60 60 60 60 40 20 20 
			  Slight 200 190 210 270 290 270 260 180 110 60 
			 
			 South West Killed 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 20 20 
			  Serious 60 60 60 50 40 50 70 50 80 60 
			  Slight 310 260 310 280 290 300 320 280 370 310 
			 
			 England Killed 130 80 90 110 90 110 130 150 130 150 
			  Serious 720 600 570 620 620 660 670 600 600 560 
			  Slight 2,840 2,690 2,740 2,850 2,890 2,900 3,150 2,810 2,790 2,600 
			 
			 Wales Killed 10 10 0 0 10 10 10 10 10 20 
			  Serious 60 50 50 40 40 40 50 30 20 40 
			  Slight 180 180 200 240 210 220 230 210 220 160 
			 
			 England and Wales Killed 130 80 90 110 100 110 140 150 150 170 
			  Serious 780 650 620 670 660 700 720 630 620 600 
			  Slight 3,010 2,870 2,940 3,080 3,100 3,130 3,380 3,010 3,010 2,750 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers rounded to nearest 1.0. 2. Figures are estimated using data from the police and from coroners' records. The 2007 and 2008 data will be available in September 2009 and September 2010 respectively.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much  (a) public and  (b) private spending there were on the strategic road network in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Clark: In the past 10 years total capital investment on the strategic road network has been:
	
		
			  £ billion 
			 1998-99 0.6 
			 1999-00 0.4 
			 2000-01 0.4 
			 2001-02 0.6 
			 2002-03 0.7 
			 2003-04 0.4 
			 2004-05 0.6 
			 2005-06 0.7 
			 2006-07 1.1 
			 2007-08 1.1 
		
	
	Privately funded investments are included in the Highways Agency's balance sheet and are shown in the figures above as per guidance issued by Treasury. The amounts relating to privately funded schemes are:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2004-05 47 
			 2005-06 93 
			 2006-07 274 
			 2007-08 47

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the Highway Agency's strategic road network underwent maintenance in each of the last eight years.

Paul Clark: To achieve the annual road condition target, the Highways Agency regularly inspects and reviews the condition of the whole strategic network and carries out discrete maintenance as required. Records show the proportion of the strategic network that underwent discrete maintenance for each of the last eight years is between 4 per cent. and 5 per cent(1). Data for the last two completed financial years (2006-07 and 2007-08) is still being collated, but is expected to be in the range of 4 per cent. to 5 per cent.. Details for each of the last eight years are included in the table.
	(1) Estimated using the Highways Agency's Pavement Management System records.
	
		
			  Strategic road network maintained 
			   Percentage 
			 2000-01 (1)4-5 
			 2001-02 (1)4-5 
			 2002-03 (1)4-5 
			 2003-04 4.1 
			 2004-05 4.4 
			 2005-06 4.0 
			 2006-07 (2)— 
			 2007-08 (2)— 
			 (1) Estimated using the Highways Agency's pavement management Systems records. (2) Records being collated.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the strategic road network were widened in each of the last 11 years, broken down by region.

Paul Clark: The following table shows how many miles of the strategic road network have been widened in each of the last 11 years.
	Prior to 2001, data was not categorised by region and therefore only total figures have been provided.
	
		
			   Government office region  
			   South West  South East  East  East Midlands  Yorkshire and the Humber  North West  North East  West Midlands  Strategic road network widened (Miles) 
			 1997 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 39.2 
			 1998 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 41.4 
			 1999 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 22.6 
			 2000 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 22.4 
			 2001 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 
			 2002 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 
			 2003 0 0 12.8 8.1 4.2 0 2.5 0 27.5 
			 2004 0 2.5 14.3 0 0 0 0 0 16.8 
			 2005 3.2 7.1 0 0 3.1 0 0 0 13.4 
			 2006 4.2 3.1 0 0 10.6 4.6 0 0 22.5 
			 2007 0 0 7.9 0 7.9 0 0 0 15.9 
			 n/a = Not available.  Note: All figures have been rounded to one decimal place. This will account for any slight variation in the totals.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what enforcement campaigns her Department is conducting to prevent  (a) underage drinking,  (b) the sale of alcohol to young people and  (c) alcohol-related crime and disorder.

Alan Campbell: Building upon the successes of the previous Alcohol Misuse Enforcement campaign (AMEC), the Tackling Under Age Sales of Alcohol to Children (TUSAC) and the Responsible Alcohol Sales campaign (RASC) the Home Office is proposing to run a different style of campaign this year.
	We are making funds available to support local problem solving projects, which can address local priorities which stem from alcohol related issues. Unlike previous enforcement campaigns this year's campaign is much less prescriptive and will also enable partnerships to bid for varying amounts of money to undertake more protracted and in depth problem solving work.
	This year we have set broad strategic objectives for the campaign, and have invited CDRPs/CSP's to submit bids, up to a maximum of 30,000. The following principles detailed in the Safe Sensible Social strategy will be considered in order to decide on funding.
	The Government's vision is to produce a long-term and sustainable reduction in the harms associated with alcohol and drugs, where there is a safe, sensible and social drinking culture where violent and antisocial behaviour is not tolerated; where young people are prevented from experiencing poor outcomes resulting from alcohol misuse; where those who drink alcohol are aware of the risks involved; and where those that are drinking too much receive the advice and support they need.
	The Government's delivery strategy for reducing the harms caused by alcohol is divided into three strands:
	first, the laws and licensing powers introduced to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime and disorder, protect young people and bear down on irresponsibly managed premises need to be used widely and effectively;
	second, focussing prevention, information and support, and where appropriate the criminal justice system at the minority of drinkers who cause or experience the most harm to themselves, their communities and their families. These are: 18 to 24-year-old binge drinkers; young people under 18 who drink alcohol; and harmful drinkers; and
	third, collaborative work by all agencies to shape an environment that actively promotes sensible drinking. Delivery will draw on the knowledge, skills, commitment and ability of local communities, the police, local authorities, prison and probation staff, the NHS, third sector organisations, the alcohol industry, the wider business community and the media.
	Completed bids will be submitted by 7 November 2008, and Partnerships will be notified if their bid has been successful by 14 November 2008. Funded partnership activity can take place from this date through to the end of March 2009.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what measures are in place to punish offenders who breach antisocial behaviour orders; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many breaches of antisocial behaviour orders have resulted in a criminal conviction in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales in each year since their inception;
	(3)  how many breaches of antisocial behaviour orders have been recorded in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England and Wales in each year since their inception.

Alan Campbell: Breach of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) is a criminal offence and as such is dealt with by the courts in accordance with criminal law procedures.
	There are a range of disposals available to the courts for those people who breach the conditions of their ASBOs. These range from fines to community sentences and custody. The maximum sentence for breach of an ASBO is five years imprisonment and/or a fine not exceeding 5,000 for an adult, and a two-year detention and training order (DTO) for a young person aged 12 to 17 years, of which 12 months is served in custody; the remainder is served in the community under the supervision of the youth offending team (YOT). A minor aged 10-11 cannot be given a term of detention but can receive a community penalty for breach of an ASBO.
	Information collected centrally on the number of ASBO breaches relates only to those ASBOs proven in court to have been breached and is not compiled below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level. The latest ASBO breach data is available for the period 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2006 and the available information is show in the table.
	
		
			  Number of occasions in selected areas( 1)  and year between 1 June 2000( 2)  and 31 December 2006 where persons were proven in court to have breached their ASBO 
			   North East Region( 3)   England and Wales 
			 2000-2002(2) 110 777 
			 2003 110 1,409 
			 2004 218 3,997 
			 2005 406 7,248 
			 2006 377 7,755 
			 Total 1,221 21,186 
			 (1) ASBOs may be issued in one area and breached in another. Breaches are counted in this table by area of Breach. (2 )From 1 June 2000. (3 )North east Government office region is comprised of the Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria Criminal Justice System areas.  Notes:  1. Previously issued data have been revised.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  OCJR Court Proceedings Database. Prepared by OCJR Evidence and Analysis Unit.

Criminal Records

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people have a criminal record, broken down by  (a) age,  (b) sex and  (c) ethnicity.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Figures on the proportions of the population with a criminal history in England and Wales can be found in 'Criminal careers of those born between 1953 and 1978' at
	www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs/hosb401.pdf.
	The bulletin gives figures for offenders who have had a court conviction for a 'standard list' offence. 'Standard list' offences include all indictable and certain of the more serious summary offences. The publication follows those born in the years 1953, 1958, 963, 1968, 1973 and 1978.

Departmental Computers

David Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of her Department's  (a) computers and  (b) laptops have been stolen in 2007; and what the value of those items was.

Phil Woolas: In 2007 there were:
	  (a) No Home Office computers recorded as stolen.
	  (b) 12 laptops recorded as stolen.
	The estimated value of these laptops is 8,200. This includes the cost of ensuring that the laptops meet the security standard required by the business process they support.

Departmental Written Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of written Questions for answer on a named day her Department has answered on the due date in the current session of Parliament to date.

Vernon Coaker: Details of how many and what proportion of named day parliamentary questions the Home Office has so far answered in the 2007-08 Session is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Session 2007-08( 1)  Number/percentage 
			 Named day questions received 1,096 
			 Answered substantively on the named day(2) 319 
			 Proportion answered substantively on the named day 29 
			 (1) To 16 October 2008 (2) All questions not answered substantively on the named day receive a holding answer.

Drugs: Misuse

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the classification regime for controlled drugs in meeting its objectives; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 17 October 2008
	 In replying to the Fifth Report of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Session 2005-06 HC 1031 Drug Classification: making a hash of it? the Government made their assessment that the classification system discharges its function fully and effectively. Our reply was published on 12 October 2006 (CM 6941) and is available at:
	http://drugs.homeoffice.gov.uk/publication-search/drug-strategy/drugclassification?view=Binary

Entry Clearances

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what average waiting time for processing visa applications under  (a) the highly skilled migrants programme and  (b) tier 2 of the points-based system was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The highly skilled migrant programme was replaced by Tier 1 of the points based system (PBS) on 30 June 2008. During July, the most recent period for which figures are available, the average processing time for visa applications under PBS tier 1 was 11.8 days. This does not include the time taken for applications to be couriered between Visa Application Centres and decision-making Posts. PBS tier 2 has not yet been implemented.

Entry Clearances: Foreign Workers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses had applied for licences to sponsor migrants as at 30 September 2008.

Phil Woolas: The number of businesses which have applied for licences to sponsor foreign migrants under the points based system is 3,340, this figure is rounded to the nearest five. A proportion of these applications are still awaiting payment and supporting documentation as businesses have up to 28 days to provide this information from the date of submission.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Genetics

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who were under the age of 18 years at the time they were arrested and had a DNA sample taken up to and including 1 December 2007 were subsequently not charged or cautioned for any offence; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: The National DNA Database does not hold information on arrests, charges, cautions or convictions; this information is held on the police national computer (PNC). Information about the number of persons who were under 18 at the time they were arrested and have not been charged or cautioned with any offence could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information on the number of persons who are currently under 18 who do not have a conviction, caution, reprimand, or received a final warning, and had no charge pending against them, is available. This was given in a reply to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 1 September 2008,  Official Report, columns 1564-65W.

Police: Leicestershire

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers and police community support officers are employed in Leicestershire Constabulary.

Vernon Coaker: Leicestershire constabulary employed 2,241 police officers and 212 police community support officers as at 31 March 2008. These figures are both calculated on a full-time equivalent basis. These and other related data are published annually as part of the annual Police Service Strength Home Office Statistical Bulletin. The latest bulletin can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/policeorg1.html
	and bulletins for previous years are available in the House of Commons Library.

Powers of Entry

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what categories of public official may enter a private residence without the permission of the  (a) owner and  (b) occupier (i) with and (ii) without advance notice; and under what circumstances such entry may lawfully be made;
	(2)  which categories of public official may  (a) enter a place of business and  (b) call a halt to (i) trading and (ii) production (A) with and (B) without advance notice; and what the circumstances are in which such actions may lawfully be taken in each case.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 6 October 2008
	Powers of entry with or without warrant by definition do not require the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises. The list of powers of entry to all premises is contained on the Powers of Entry Review webpage at:
	http://police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operationalpolicing/powerspacecodes/powersofentryreview/.
	The content of the list are currently subject to verification with other Government Departments and investigating agencies. Specific powers where prior notice is required are set out in the following table.
	The ability to require a cessation to operating functions is an enforcement power. Such enforcement action would not be conditional on the exercise of a power of entry. The list sets out statute which provides for cessation and which also contains a power of entry.
	
		
			  Primary legislation 
			  Statute  Power  Who may enter  Other powers 
			 Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 s.44: Powers of fire-fighters in an emergency. Employee of fire and rescue authority in writing May restrict access of persons to premises or place. 
			 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 s.20: Powers of Inspectors. Inspectors appointed under the Act Comprehensive list of powers of examination/investigation which includes power to direct that premises or parts are left undisturbed for as long as reasonably necessary to complete the examination. 
			 Housing Act 2004 s.40 Emergency Remedial action. Local housing authority May take emergency remedial action. 
			  Sch. 3, para. 3: Entry by local housing authorities to take action regarding improvement Notices without agreement. Local housing authority Person auth in writing by local housing authority may take action in relation to hazard 
		
	
	
		
			  Secondary legislation 
			  Statutory instrument (year/number)  Power  Who may enter  Other powers 
			 Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No 2) Order 2006 [2006/2702] Art 72(2): Entry to decide whether to grant/ maintain licence to move anything. Inspector or person authorised by SoS Article 82general powers of inspectors when performing functions under this Order includes cleansing and disinfecting etc. 
			 Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (England) Order 2000 [20002056] Art 10(3): Entry where notice served under (1) for purposes of cleansing and disinfection. Veterinary Inspector May cause to carry out cleansing disinfection -may recover expenses from person in default. 
			 Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (Wales) Order 2006 [2006/867] Art 11(3): Entry where notice served under (1) for purposes of cleansing and disinfection. Veterinary Inspector May cause to carry out cleansing disinfection -may recover expenses from person in default. 
			 Importation of Animal Pathogens Order 1980 [1980/212] Art 6(5): Entry by inspectors where notice served under para (3) regarding cleansing and disinfecting not complied with. Veterinary Inspector May cause to carry out cleansing disinfection. 
			 Marketing of Fruit Plant Material Regulations 1995 [1995/2653] Reg 12(1): Entry to ascertain whether a contravention of these regulations. Inspector May serve notice on supplier of failure to comply with regulation 5(a) and require not to move/ market plant material until reasonable measures specified in notice carried out. 
			 Marketing of Ornamental Plant Propagating Material Regulations 1999(1999/180] Reg 13(1): Entry to ascertain whether a contravention of these regulations. Inspector May serve notice on supplier of failure to comply with these regulations and require not to move/ market propagating material until such reasonable measures specified in notice carried out. 
			 Marketing of Vegetable Plant Material Regulations 1995 [1995/2652] Reg 11 (1): Entry to ascertain whether a contravention of these regulations.. Inspector May serve notice on supplier of failure to comply with regulation 5(a) and require not to move/ market plant material until such reasonable measures specified in notice are carried out. 
			 Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 [1997/1729] Reg 16: Entry following failure to comply with notice served under these regulations. Veterinary Inspector May take or cause to be taken such necessary steps to ensure compliance with requirements of notice. Costs may be recoverable. 
			 Gas Safety (Rights of Entry) Regulations 1996 [1996/2535] Reg 4 (1): Entry by gas transporter to deal with gas escapes of gas conveyed by the transporter. Officer authorised by transporter Carry out work necessary to prevent the escape of gas and take any other steps to avert danger to life or property. 
			  Reg 5: Power to enter premises for purposes of inspection, testing, disconnection etc. Officer authorised by the relevant authority If necessary to avert danger to life or property, disconnect and seal off any gas fitting or any part of the gas system, or disconnect the premises, or if not connected, signify refusal to convey gas to premises etc. 
			 Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 [1996/551] Reg 7 (4) and (5): Entry to relevant place by person conveying gas when carrying out duty to prevent gas escaping. Person conveying gas Take all steps necessary to avert clanger to persons from entry of gas. 
			 Submarine Pipe-lines (Inspectors etc) Regulations 1977 [1977/835] Art3(1)(b): Entry to premises for purposes of inspecting pipe-lines. Inspector appointed by SoS If risk of Sch. 1 occurrence (concern actual or potential danger etc.) require remedial/preventative action, shut down if serious risk.

Redundancy

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her most recent estimate is of the cost of redundancies in her Department arising from the conclusions of the Gershon Review.

Jacqui Smith: It is not possible to identify the number of early departures, the exact nature and circumstances of individual departures or associated costs that have occurred in the Home Office as a direct result of the Gershon review without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	Central information held on early departures does not distinguish between those who might have been compelled to leave the Department on compulsory redundancy terms, and those who wished to leave voluntarily on similar terms. It would be necessary to review individual files to extract the information requested.

Departmental Accounting

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham on 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2016W, on the departmental internet, when the Cabinet Office's resource accounts will be audited; and when the audited accounts will be published.

Kevin Brennan: The Cabinet Office expects its resource accounts for the year ending 31 March 2009 to be audited and published shortly before the summer parliamentary recess in 2009.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the  (a) budget and  (b) staff level of his Department's (i) Corporate Performance Division and each of its subdivisions, (ii) Policy and Research Division and each of its subdivisions, (iii) International Division and each of its subdivisions and (iv) Country Programmes Division and each of its subdivisions (A) was in each of the last three years and (B) is projected to be in each of the next three years.

Douglas Alexander: Table 1 details the staffing levels for home civil service staff and staff appointed in country for each of DFID's division and subdivisions. The figures from 2006 to 2008 show the numbers of full-time equivalent staff as at end of March for each of those years. Part-time staff are counted according to the percentage of full-time hours worked. Projected staffing levels are shown for March 2011. This is currently being reviewed.
	Table 2 details budget planning levels from 2005-06 to 2010-11. Final divisional allocations for 2008-09 to 2010-11 will be subject to further revision based on operational demands of the government's aid programme.
	Various divisional restructures have occurred over the last three years and both tables are mapped as closely as possible to the most up to date current reporting structures.
	
		
			  Table 1 :DFID actual staff in post (full-time equivalent) levels by division for 2006 to 2008; plus projections of staff levels for 2009 to 2011 
			   March 2006  March 2007  March 2008  Projection of total posts for March 2011 
			  Division  HCS  SAIC  Total  HCS  SAIC  Total  HCS  SAIC  Total  HCS  SAIC  Total 
			  Corporate performance 
			 Business Solutions 87 0 87 83 5 88 84 9 93 100 19 119 
			 Communications 131 0 131 81 0 81 69 0 69 96 0 96 
			 Finance and Corporate Performance 210 0 210 218 0 218 188 2 190 137 4 141 
			 Human Resources 242 0 242 215 0 215 196 0 196 176 12 188 
			 Sub totals 670 0 670 597 5 602 537 11 548 509 35 544 
			  
			  Policy and research 
			 Policy and research 222 0 222 224 0 224 210 0 210 195 0 195 
			 Sub totals 222 0 222 224 0 224 210 0 210 195 0 195 
			  
			  International 
			 Europe and donor relations division (1) (1) (1) 60 0 60 74 v0 74 91 0 91 
			 International finance and development effectiveness 62 0 62 59 0 59 56 0 56 63 0 63 
			 United Nations, conflict and humanitarian 104 3 107 105 7 112 96 8 104 103 5 108 
			 Sub totals 166 3 169 224 7 171 226 8 234 257 5 262 
			  
			  Country programmes 
			 Africa 303 448 751 294 412 706 264 400 664 237 366 603 
			 Europe, middle east, Americas central and east Asia 161 118 279 154 111 265 177 177 354 143 113 256 
			 South Asia 180 362 542 166 325 491 120 227 347 113 228 341 
			 Sub totals 644 928 1572 614 848 1,462 561 804 1,365 493 707 1,200 
			  
			  Sub-division (not included in above divisions) 
			 Seconded from 33 1 34 2 0 2 6 0 6 0 0 0 
			 Top management group 36 0 36 30 0 30 40 1 41 42 0 42 
			 Unallocated 30 0 30 28 5 33 32 10 42 0 0 0 
			 Sub totals 99 1 100 60 5 65 78 11 89 42 0 42 
			  
			 Grand totals 1,801 932 2,733 1,719 865 2,524 1,612 834 2,446 1,496 747 2,243 
			 (1 )Division did not exist at March 2006 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: DFID resource budget figures by division and sub-division from 2005-06 to 2010-11 
			  000 
			  Division/subdivisions  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			  Corporate performance   
			 Top management group 3,790 3,551 4,100 4,580 4,475 4,371 
			 Information systems division level 12,123 18,823 18,409 12,656 12,275 11,748 
			 Finance and corporate performance division 13,677 12,080 8,389 7,258 6,413 5,979 
			 Human resources division 35,415 36,531 51,524 54,153 43,907 34,472 
			 Communications division 14,660 23,000 22,834 33,741 40,573 48,951 
			 Internal audit 713 800 880 1,300 1,300 1,302 
			 Evaluation department 3,562 2,700 3,669 4,302 5,300 5,279 
			 Centrally managed costs and contingency 101,300 96,500 97,412 205,233 406,000 589,000 
			
			  Policy and international   
			 International finance and development effectiveness 667,493 1,173,975 937,536 985,615 1,327,200 1,575,214 
			 Policy and research division 316,445 267,044 386,227 503,862 646,964 839,155 
			 United Nations, conflict and humanitarian division 423,123 408,394 419,969 417,163 440,787 496,114 
			 Europe and donor relations division 885,596 912,817 994,000 1,084,247 1,209,755 1,312,727 
			
			  Regional programmes   
			 Pan-Africa strategy and programmes 50,000 57,280 56,741 87,461 234,163 351,211 
			 South Asia division 589,700 603,167 657,703 700,829 735,809 808,139 
			 Europe, middle east, Americas and central and east Asia 380,518 341,622 376,919 403,219 411,917 383,782 
			 West and southern Africa 427,500 416,842 543,211 539,677 563,585 606,214 
			 East and central Africa 551,000 589,436 704,900 707,893 757,848 848,125 
			
			 Grand total 4,472,825 4,961,011 5,280,323 5,748,609 6,843,796 7,917,412 
			  Notes: 1. Centrally managed costs line includes depreciation, corporate IT systems and all budget contingency reserves for 2008-09 onwards. 2. Human Resources includes office services and costs and Overseas Pensions. 3. Europe and Donor Relations Division includes EC attribution.

Middle East: Politics and Government

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in  (a) the West Bank and  (b) the Gaza Strip.

Douglas Alexander: We remain concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and continue to monitor it closely.
	In Gaza, 69 per cent. of the population receive some form of food aid. Over 95 per cent. of businesses have closed and unemployment is over 45 per cent.. Health and educational services are under severe strain and the economy has been severely affected by crossing restrictions. Since the ceasefire began in June there have been some improvements. For example, projects to repair sewage treatment facilities have restarted and fuel supplies to the Gaza power plant have increased. However, the overall flow of humanitarian supplies, commercial goods and people into Gaza has only improved marginally.
	In the west bank, 25 per cent. of the population is affected by food insecurity and unemployment is over 16 per cent. Due to falling incomes and continuing rises in food prices, people in the west bank now spend 56 per cent. of their income on food. Movement and access restrictions continue to hold back economic growth and to affect the daily life of ordinary Palestinians. In August, the United Nations counted 630 physical obstacles such as roadblocks and checkpoints in the west bank. This is almost 68 per cent. higher than when the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access was signed.

Taxis

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from his Department in  (a) 2006-07,  (b) 2005-06,  (c) 2004-05,  (d) 2003-04 and  (e) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: It is not possible to disaggregate costs in respect of taxi expenses across all offices of the Department for International Development (DFID), without incurring a disproportionate cost. The figures provided include costs for contracted taxi and privately arranged hire for UK based staff costs for the years specified and are detailed:
	
		
			   
			 2006-07 243,363 
			 2005-06 328,383 
			 2004-05 243,300 
			 2003-041 143,447 
			 2002-031 105,908 
			 (1) Taxi costs incurred by members of staff outside the central contracts are not available in these years centrally and could not be provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of the apprentice matching service contract signed with  (a) CAP Gemini and  (b) S-Cool.

Si�n Simon: The National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service is being developed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to provide a high quality service to employers wishing to recruit apprentices, and to young people and adults considering an apprenticeship. This service will help deliver the objective outlined in World-class Apprenticeships to expand and improve the quality of our apprenticeships programme. The LSC is contracting with Capgemini for the provision of the IT system. The LSC is separately contracting with S-cool for apprenticeship on-line pilots in three areas, including Hampshire. Contracts for goods and services are commercially sensitive and cannot be made available to right hon. and hon. Members. I have asked Mark Haysom, chief executive of the LSC, to write to the right hon. Member, copying his reply to me, outlining the Vacancy Matching Service and Capgemini's role in supplying these services.